"Thine I have now receiv'd, which manifests/ Thou hast had some regard to my Requests; / And by these good Effects, dost testify, / Thou'rt not so much inclin'd to Vanity, / To Childish Sports, and Time-beguiling Play, / As thou hast been therein, and spent thy Day:/ Endeared Friend, may'st thou be yet more Wise, / And let thy Mind find better Exercise; / That thou may'st learn, with diligence, to wait / To feel the Springing-Life Regenerate / Thy Soul"

"Thine I have now receiv'd, which manifests/ Thou hast had some regard to my Requests; / And by these good Effects, dost testify, / Thou'rt not so much inclin'd to Vanity, / To Childish Sports, and Time-beguiling Play, / As thou hast been therein, and spent thy Day:/ Endeared Friend, may'st thou be yet more Wise, / And let thy Mind find better Exercise; / That thou may'st learn, with diligence, to wait / To feel the Springing-Life Regenerate / Thy Soul"

Metaphor in Context

Thine I have now receiv'd, which manifests
Thou hast had some regard to my Requests;
And by these good Effects, dost testify,
Thou'rt not so much inclin'd to Vanity,
To Childish Sports, and Time-beguiling Play,
As thou hast been therein, and spent thy Day:
Endeared Friend, may'st thou be yet more Wise,
And let thy Mind find better Exercise;
That thou may'st learn, with diligence, to wait
To feel the Springing-Life Regenerate
Thy Soul; whereby thou'lt know no greater tryal
Can meet us here, than daily Self-denial:
Suffer we must, if we expect to Reign
With Christ, (or else our Expectation's vain)
In Sorrows, as in Joys, participate.
Alas! He never came to Consecrate
A Way for us to true Felicity,
Thro' curious Trims, and Silks of Princely Dy:
This Path is not bestrew'd with Golden Crowns,
Rich Coats of Arms, and Scepters of Renown;
Nor yet with Oriental Gems, that be
Such dazling Sparks unto the Carnal Eye:
No, no; 'tis through the Cross we must obtain
The Crown of Glory; other hopes are vain.
This Men of Understanding knew of old,
And prudently disdain'd that Idol Gold:
Wise Solon told King Croesus (when he sate
In Gaudy Pomp upon his Throne of State)
Doting upon his Wealth, in lofty Pride,
Expecting almost to be Deify'd)
That Peacocks with their spreading Plumes express
A greater Lustre in their Nat'ral Dress,
Than He in all his Glory; which, tho' he
Disdain'd to own, whilst in Prosperity,
Except with Frowns, nor car'd to meditate
So deep a Sentence: Sudden change of State
Thereto constrain'd, and taught him to confess,
'Tis neither Wealth nor Honour, that can bless
Man's Heart with true Content; but rather do
Betray, and bring to Misery and Wo.
Therefore delight not in these fading things,
Which suddenly may vanish as on Wings:
But let true Wisdom teach thee, (no Excuse
Avails to plead for precious Time's abuse)
That with an humble Spirit thou array
Thy self: This is a Robe will ne'er decay;
No outward Ornament can beautify,
As Lamb-like Meekness, inward Purity.

See Fruits of Retirement: or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &C. Written on Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux, Late of Leverpool, Deceased. To Which Is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author. (London: printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1702). <Link to ESTC>